Impenetrable automatically registering target

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to the field of shooting techniques and particularly to automatically working shooting targets. The invention concerns a shooting target comprising essentially an electrically conducting sheet or plate and an electrically conducting elastic membrane placed in a predetermined relationship in front of the said conducting sheet or plate, said conducting sheet and membrane being insulated each from the other and being each electrically connected to at least one terminal mounted on the target.

United States Patent Oetiker [451 July 18,1972

[54] IMPENETRABLE AUTOMATICALLY REGISTERING TARGET Y [72] Inventor:Hermann Walter Oetiker, Oberlunkhofen,

Switzerland [73] Assignee: Polytronlc SA, St-Aubin NE, Switzerland [22]Filed: March 26, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 22,806

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data March 27, 1969 Switzerland..4901/69 [52] US. Cl. ..273/l02.2 R, 272/18] R [51] Int. Cl ..F41j 5/04[58] Field of Search .....273/29 A, 102.2 R, 102.2 A, 273/181, 182, 184,185

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,784,001 3/1957 Simjian.....273/l8l E 2,743,929 5/1956 Smith ..273/l84 R 2,767,987 10/1956 Klose..273/l02.2 A 2,341,360 2/1944 Bulgin ..2'73/l02.2 A 3,352,556 11/1967Chaskin ..273/l02.2 R

Primary Examiner-Richard c. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Marvin SiskindAttorney-Ostrolenk, Faber, Gerb & Soffen 57 ABSTRACT The presentinvention relates to the field of shooting techniques and particularlyto automatically working shooting targets. The invention concerns ashooting target comprising essentially an electrically conducting sheetor plate and an electrically conducting elastic membrane placed in apredetermined relationship in front of the said conducting sheet orplate, said conducting sheet and membrane being insulated each from theother and being each electrically connected to at least one terminalmounted on the target.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented July 18, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

lbs

Patented July 18, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVEN TOR. m4; 754 air/bileIMPENETRABLE AUTOMATICALLY REGISTERING TARGET The present inventionrelates to a shooting target.

There are known shooting targets comprising two conducting layers placedon both sides of an insulating layer, both of said conducting layersbeing put under tension by means of a voltage source. When a projectilepenetrates through the target it electrically connects both of saidconducting layers during a short period of time and the conductinglayers are shortcircuited. Such short circuit may be easily detected andindicated or registered by means of any suitable electric circuit.

However, it is clear that a target of the type described can only beused with electrically conducting projectiles, as it is this projectilewhich is realizing the electrical contact between the said twoconducting layers. A target of this known type would not work withnon-conducting projectiles, such a projectiles of synthetic material.

On the other hand when the projectiles are of very small dimension, suchas projectiles of 4 mm in diameter, the targets used are usually alsovery small and therefore more difficult in manufacture.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a shooting targetwhich may be used for arms of any caliber, including air arms, and whichwill no longer require the use of electrically conducting projectiles.

The target in accordance with the present invention comprises to thisend an electrically conducting plate or sheet in front of which isplaced an electrically conducting elastic membrane, said plate and saidmembrane being insulated each from the other and each being electricallyconnected to at least one terminal.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description of two embodiments of a shootingtarget in accordance with the invention shown in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a target with points, i.e., a decimaltarget, for use with projectiles shot with air arms, such as air guns,the target comprising an electrically conducting plate in front of whichis placed an elastic and also electrically conducting membrane;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the electrically conducting rigid plate of thetarget shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the electrically conducting elastic membraneof the target shown in FIG. I; and

FIG. 4 shows a variant of the shooting target of FIGS. 1 to 3.

1 The target represented in FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings comprises aframe 1 having fixed thereon a plate 2 of epoxy resin, such as used formanufacturing printed electronic circuits. This plate is covered on atleast one of its sides by layer or sheet of copper 3.

This layer of copper 3 is subdivided into a plurality of mutuallyinsulated zones (see FIG. 2), i.e., into a circular surface 4, circularrings 5 to 11, the surface 4 and the rings 5 to 11 corresponding to thesubdivisions of a decimal target, and into a remaining surface 12. Allof said zones 4 to 12 have been electrically insulated by removing inthe manner well known in the fabrication of printed circuits part of thecopper of layer 3 such as to delimit the said zones. Each of said zones4 and 5 to 11 respectively is electrically connected to a terminal 13 or14 to 22 respectively placed at the lower end of the plate 2 by means ofa conducting band or strip 23 or 24 to 32 respectively. Each band 23 to32 is placed behind plate 2 and is connected to the corresponding zoneby means of a rivet 33 or 34 to 42 respectively traversing the plate 2.The remaining zone 12 is directly connected to a terminal 43 placedbeside said terminals 13 to 22. It would of course be possible to use anepoxy resin plate having both of its sides covered with a layer or sheetof copper. In this case the conductors 23 to 32 as well as the terminals13 to 22 and 43 could be made in a single operation in the same manneras the zones 4 to 12.

The plate 2 which has just been described with respect to FIG. 2 isplaced in a multiple terminal plug 44 (see FIG. 1) and each of saidterminals 13 to 22 as well as terminal 43 i.e., each of said zones 4 to12 is connected to an amplifying stage designated by 45 in theembodiment of FIG. 1.

This amplifying stage 45 comprises an npn transistor 46 having itscollector 47 connected, over a resistance 49, to a positive voltage 48and its emitter 50 connected to the ground. The base 51 of transistor 46is connected, over a resistance 52, to one terminal of the multipleterminal plug 44. The emitter 50 of transistor 46 is further connected,over a resistance 53, to the base 51, and the collector 47 is connectedto an output terminal 54.

An electric membrane 55 of PVC is mounted on frame I in front of plate2. The membrane 55 could also be made of rubber or of any type ofpolyester. The side of the membrane facing the plate 2 is covered by anelectrically conducting varnish 56, the varnish being applied bymutually insulated sectors onto the said side of the membrane, as shownin FIG.

In FIG. 3 the frame of the target has been designated by l and theelastic membrane by 55. Sectors 57 to 64 have been applied onto membrane55 by means of a conducting varnish or lacquer on a basis of graphiteand electrical conductors 65 to 72 are electrically connecting thesectors 57 to 64 to terminals (not shown). The electrical conductors 65to 72 are also made by means of said conducting varnish on a basis ofgraphite applied onto the membrane 55. As already shown for theconducting plate shown in FIG. 2, each of said connectors 65 to 72 i.e.,each of said sectors 57 to 64 is connected to an amplifying circuit 73(see FIG. 1). The amplifying circuit 73 comprises a pnp transistor 74having its collector 75 connected to the negative terminal 76 of avoltage source, over a resistance 77, and its emitter 78 connected tothe positive terminal 79 of a voltage source. The base 80 of transistor74 is connected, over a resistance 81, to the corresponding sector ofmembrane 55. The collector 75 is connected to an output terminal 82, andthe emitter 78 is connected, over a resistance 83, to the base 80.

The target described hereinabove is operating as follows:

A projectile 84 hits the membrane 55 at 85 and deforms or displaces themembrane until it comes into contact with the layer 3 of plate 2. Thesector 61 (see FIG. 3) hit by the projectile 84 at 85 will thereforecome into contact with the circular ring 6 (see FIG. 2). Due to thecontact between the sector 61 on the one hand, which is put at apositive potential by means of its amplifying stage 73, and the ring 6on the other hand, which is put at a negative potential by means of itsamplifying stage 45, the base 80 of transistor 74- will receive anegative impulse and the base 51 of transistor 46 a positive impulse.Thus, a positive impulse will arrive at the output terminal 82 of theamplifying stage 73 and a negative impulse will arrive at the outputterminal 54 of the amplifying stage 45. A rectifier stage (not shown)may be connected to the amplifying stage 45 in order to redress thenegative impulse arriving at terminal 54 and to transform it into apositive impulse. These outlet or output impulses will be used forcontrolling indicator means (not shown), such as lamps provided forindicating on an indicator board the sector and the zone hit by theprojectile. A logical circuit (not shown) could be mounted between theamplifying stage 73 and the not shown rectifier stage connected to theamplifying stage 45 on the one hand and the indicator means on the otherhand, in order to eliminate the zone corresponding to the lower mostvalue in the case where two neighboring zones should be hit together bythe same projectile. In the case where, for example, the projectileshould hit the center of the target, more than two adjacent sectorswould be brought into contact with the circular surface 4 correspondingto ten points". The logical circuit could be realized such as tooperate, in the case where at least three ad jacent sectors are broughtin contact with the conducting plate, all the indicator meanscorresponding to sectors 57 to 64. This would be a good means forindicating a center shot.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 represents a five point target comprisingan insulating plate having applied thereto a conducting circular surface91 representing the surface of value "five of the target.

Eight electrically conducting sectors 92 to 99 are arranged around thecircular surface 91. The sectors 92 to 99 are insulated with respect toeach other and with respect to the surface 91. These sectors 92 to 99form together the annular surface representing the value four of thetarget. Around this annular surface are arranged eight furtherelectrically conducting sectors 100 to 107 insulated with respect toeach other and with respect to the sectors 92 to 99. The sectors 100 to107 form together the annular surface representing the value three ofthe target. The value two and the value one respectively of the targetare represented by the annular sectors 108 and 109 respectively, partonly of these sectors being represented in FIG. 4. The circular surface91 as well as all of the sectors 92 to 99, 100 to 107 etc., areconnected to terminals T T T plate 90 shown in FIG. 4 by using rivets110 and suitable connectors, such as e.g., insulated connector leads.

An electrically conducting elastic membrane, e.g., a sheet ofelectrically conducting rubber, is placed in front of the insulatingplate 90. As in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3., this membrane will bemounted at some distance from the plate, in order that an electriccontact can occur only when a projectile hits the membrane and brings itinto contact with the plate 90. If the target is provided for air armsonly (e.g., air guns) a membrane of conducting rubber having a thicknessof 1 mm will be sufficient. If the target is to be used for smallcaliber arms, e.g., caliber 22, it will be necessary to place aprotective membrane in front of the conducting membrane (see e.g.,membrane 55 represented in dotted line in FIG. 1). It would also bepossible to replace the electrically conductive membrane and theprotective membrane by a single sheet of steel fulfilling the functionsof both membranes. In this case the target could be used for armsshooting projectiles of plastic material.

The circular surface and all of the said sectors on the one hand and theelectrically conducting membrane on the other hand will be connected toinput terminals of a logical circuit (not shown) applying a potentialdifference to the circular surface and the said sectors on the one handand to the conducting membrane on the other hand. If a projectile hitsthe membrane it will establish a contact between the said membrane andone of said sectors. The logical circuit will be built up in such amanner as to be able to indicate on an indicator board the value (inpoints) of the surface of the target within which the sector is placedas well as the position of the sector (with respect to the other sectoror with respect to the center of the target).

It can easily be seen that the arrangement of the sectors in the targetshown in F IG. 4 replaces exactly the arrangement of the circularsurfaces and the sectors as represented in FIGS. 2 and 3.

What is claimed is:

l. A target which is impenetrable to projectiles, which projectiles maybe of any desired material, said target enabling the automatic registerof the position at which a projectile strikes the target; said targetcomprising:

an extended area sheet relatively impenetrable to projectiles and havinga continuous surface including at least one surface region ofelectrically conductive material;

an elastically deformable membrane extending coextensively with saidsheet, and having a continuous surface and including at least onesurface region of electrically conductive material;

support means supporting said membrane and said sheet in spaced paralleland electrically insulated relation with respect to one another, withsaid surface regions of electrically conductive material of saidmembrane and said sheet respectively, facing one another;

at least one of said conductive regions of said sheet and said membranebeing divided into a plurality of insulated conductive zones;

said membrane being locally deformable by projectiles to cause localelectrical connection between adjacent portions of said regions ofelectrically conductive material;

. etc., placed at the lower end of the 1 and respective terminal meansconnected to each of said plurality of areas, and to the other of saidconductive regions, whereby electrical connection is made between therespective terminals of said other of said conductive regions and one ofsaid plurality of areas when a projectile strikes said target at aregion falling within said area;

said body of the elastic membrane consisting of a material selected fromthe group consisting of PVC, polyester and rubber.

2. The target of claim 1 wherein said membrane consists of electricallyconductive rubber.

3. A shooting target as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sheet issubdivided into a plurality of insulated zones and the membrane is ofelectrically conducting rubber.

4. A target which is impenetrable to projectiles, which projectiles maybe of any desired material, said target enabling the automatic registerof the position at which a projectile strikes the target; said targetcomprising:

an extended area sheet relatively impenetrable to projectiles and havinga continuous surface including at least one surface region ofelectrically conductive material;

an elastically deformable membrane extending co-extensively with saidsheet, and having a continuous surface and including at least onesurface region of electrically conductive material;

support means supporting said membrane and said sheet in spaced paralleland electrically insulated relation with respect to one another, withsaid surface regions of electrically conductive material of saidmembrane and said sheet respectively, facing one another;

at least one of said conductive regions of said sheet and said membranebeing divided into a plurality of insulated conductive zones;

said membrane being locally deformable by projectiles to cause localelectrical connection between adjacent portions of said regions ofelectrically conductive material; and respective terminal meansconnected to each of said plurality of areas, and to the other of saidconductive regions, whereby electrical connection is made between therespective terminals of said other of said conductive regions and one ofsaid plurality of areas when a projectile strikes said target at aregion falling within said area; said membrane consisting of a body ofelectrically insulating material with the side of said membrane facingsaid sheet being covered with an electrically conductive varnish.

5. A shooting target as claimed in claim 4, wherein said conductivevarnish is a varnish on the base of graphite.

6. A shooting target as claimed in claim 4, wherein said layer ofconductive varnish is subdivided into said plurality of areas, each ofsaid areas being connected to respective terminal means by conductingbands formed of electrically conductive varnish deposited onto said bodyof said membrane.

7. A target which is impenetrable to projectiles, which projectiles maybe of any desired material, said target enabling the automatic registerof the position at which a projectile strikes the target; said targetcomprising:

an extended area sheet relatively impenetrable to projectiles and havinga continuous surface including at least one surface region ofelectrically conductive material;

an elastically deformable membrane extending co-extensively with saidsheet, and having a continuous surface and including at least onesurface region of electrically conductive material;

support means supporting said membrane and said sheet in spaced paralleland electrically insulated relation with respect to one another, withsaid surface regions of electrically conductive'material of saidmembrane and said sheet respectively, facing one another;

said conductive regions of said sheet and said membrane being dividedinto a plurality of insulated conductive zones;

said membrane being locally deformable by projectiles to cause localelectrical connection between adjacent portions of said regions ofelectrically conductive material;

and respective terminal means connected to each of said plurality ofareas, and to the other of said conductive regions, whereby electricalconnection is made between the respective terminals of said other ofsaid conductive regions and one of said plurality of areas when aprojectile strikes said target at a region falling within said area;

and a protective membrane disposed in front of said electricallyconducting elastic membrane.

1. A target which is impenetrable to projectiles, which projectiles maybe of any desired material, said target enabling the automatic registerof the position at which a projectile strikes the target; said targetcomprising: an extended area sheet relatively impenetrable toprojectiles and having a continuous surface including at least onesurface region of electrically conductive material; an elasticallydeformable membrane extending coextensively with said sheet, and havinga continuous surface and including at least one surface region ofelectrically conductive material; support means supporting said membraneand said sheet in spaced parallel and electrically insulated relationwith respect to one another, with said surface regions of electricallyconductive material of said membrane and said sheet respectively, facingone another; at least one of said conductive regions of said sheet andsaid membrane being divided into a plurality of insulated conductivezones; said membrane being locally deformable by projectiles to causelocal electrical connection between adjacent portions of said regions ofelectrically conductive material; and respective terminal meansconnected to each of said plurality of areas, and to the other of saidconductive regions, whereby electrical connection is made between therespective terminals of said other of said conductive regions and one ofsaid plurality of areas when a projectile strikes said target at aregion falling within said area; said body of the elastic membraneconsisting of a material selected from the group consisting of PVC,polyester and rubber.
 2. The target of claim 1 wherein said membraneconsists of electrically conductive rubber.
 3. A shooting target asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said sheet is subdivided into a plurality ofinsulated zones and the membrane is of electrically conducting rubber.4. A target which is impenetrable to projectiles, which projectiles maybe of any desired material, said target enabling the automatic registerof the position at which a projectile strikes the target; said targetcomprising: an extended area sheet relatively impenetrable toprojectiles and having a continuous surface including at least onesurface region of electrically conductive material; an elasticallydeformable membrane extending co-extensively with said sheet, and havinga continuous surface and including at least one surface region ofelectrically conductive material; support means supporting said membraneand said sheet in spaced parallel and electrically insulated relationwith respect to one another, with said surface regions of electricallyconductive material of said membrane and said sheet respectively, facingone another; at least one of said conductive regions of said sheet andsaid membrane being divided into a plurality of insulated conductivezones; said membrane being locally deformable by projectiles to causelocal electrical connection between adjacent portions of said regions ofelectrically conductive material; and respective terminal meansconnected to each of said plurality of areas, and to the other of saidconductive regions, whereby electrical connection is made between therespective terMinals of said other of said conductive regions and one ofsaid plurality of areas when a projectile strikes said target at aregion falling within said area; said membrane consisting of a body ofelectrically insulating material with the side of said membrane facingsaid sheet being covered with an electrically conductive varnish.
 5. Ashooting target as claimed in claim 4, wherein said conductive varnishis a varnish on the base of graphite.
 6. A shooting target as claimed inclaim 4, wherein said layer of conductive varnish is subdivided intosaid plurality of areas, each of said areas being connected torespective terminal means by conducting bands formed of electricallyconductive varnish deposited onto said body of said membrane.
 7. Atarget which is impenetrable to projectiles, which projectiles may be ofany desired material, said target enabling the automatic register of theposition at which a projectile strikes the target; said targetcomprising: an extended area sheet relatively impenetrable toprojectiles and having a continuous surface including at least onesurface region of electrically conductive material; an elasticallydeformable membrane extending co-extensively with said sheet, and havinga continuous surface and including at least one surface region ofelectrically conductive material; support means supporting said membraneand said sheet in spaced parallel and electrically insulated relationwith respect to one another, with said surface regions of electricallyconductive material of said membrane and said sheet respectively, facingone another; said conductive regions of said sheet and said membranebeing divided into a plurality of insulated conductive zones; saidmembrane being locally deformable by projectiles to cause localelectrical connection between adjacent portions of said regions ofelectrically conductive material; and respective terminal meansconnected to each of said plurality of areas, and to the other of saidconductive regions, whereby electrical connection is made between therespective terminals of said other of said conductive regions and one ofsaid plurality of areas when a projectile strikes said target at aregion falling within said area; and a protective membrane disposed infront of said electrically conducting elastic membrane.